Sullivan had to evacuate her apartment yesterday after a fire engulfed the neighboring building. Today, it was safe enough for her to return.

"The Red Cross was very helpful, they put us up in a motel last night. I'm just glad to be back home," she said.

While emergency crews pumped water out of the basement, fire investigators determined that an electrical short in a first floor wall caused the flames.

"Pillars of smoke was coming out of the top (of the building)," described Yvonne Owens, a witness to the fire.

According to fire fighters, the fire was trapped between the walls, going undetected. Buildings like this one, which was built in 1879, have caused problems for town emergency services before and made for a dangerous rescue yesterday.

"The fire appeared to be darkening down and then all of a sudden it lights up from the fire being exposed from the floors and the ceiling," said fire chief Troy Ruggles.

The displaced families were helped by the Red Cross and put up in a local hotel.

A Justice Department civil rights investigation has concluded that the Ferguson Police Department and the city's municipal court engaged in a "pattern and practice" of discrimination against African Americans, targeting them disproportionately for tr...